Methods and articles for facilitating stringing of a stringed instrument having mechanical vibrato unit

Abstract

Disclosed is a stringing device configured for facilitating stringing of a stringed instrument having a rotatable axle vibrato. The stringing device is an elongate article having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is configured for mating with an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato. The outer surface has a plurality of openings of corresponding string passages, where each string passage facilitates the passage of strings from the outer surface through the stringing device and extending out from the inner surface. The plurality of openings optionally each have an eyelet seat configured to retain an eyelet of a string. Methods of using the stringing device are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stringing device configured for facilitating stringing of a stringed instrument that has a rotatable axle vibrato, the stringing device comprising:
 a. an elongate article having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the inner surface being configured for mating with an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato; and 
 b. a plurality of spaced-apart string passages, each string passage comprising an opening on the outer surface, the opening leading to a channel within the stringing device, the channel leading to an aperture disposed on the inner surface, each string passage being configured for facilitating the passage of an instrument string from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface, wherein each opening includes an eyelet seat, which comprises a depression about the opening in the outer surface, fully surrounding the entrance to the channel. 
 
     
     
       2. A stringing device configured for facilitating stringing of a stringed instrument that has a rotatable axle vibrato, the stringing device comprising:
 a. an elongate article having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the inner surface being configured for mating with an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato, the axle comprising a central axis and an arc, the inner surface comprising:
 i. at least two contact surfaces configured to contact the axle along a length thereof when the inner surface is mated thereto, the contact surfaces being oriented at least 60° apart from each other relative to the central axis of the axle; or 
 ii. a continuous contact surface that is curved and configured to contact the axle along a length thereof and wrap around an arc length of the arc thereof, the arc length corresponding to an angle θ of at least 60° about the central axis of the axle; and 
 
 b. a plurality of spaced-apart string passages, each string passage comprising an opening on the outer surface, the opening leading to a channel within the stringing device, the channel leading to an aperture disposed on the inner surface, each string passage being configured for facilitating the passage of an instrument string from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface wherein each opening includes an eyelet seat, which comprises a depression about the opening in the outer surface, fully surrounding the entrance to the channel. 
 
     
     
       3. A stringing device configured for facilitating stringing of a stringed instrument that has a rotatable axle vibrato, the stringing device comprising:
 a. an elongate article having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the inner surface being configured for mating with an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato, the inner surface and outer surface defining a side profile of the entire elongate article, the side profile in its entirety being substantially arcuate in shape such that there is no additional structure extending from or otherwise interrupting the substantially arcuate side profile; and 
 b. a plurality of spaced-apart string passages, each string passage comprising an opening on the outer surface, the opening leading to a channel within the stringing device, the channel leading to an aperture disposed on the inner surface, each string passage being configured for facilitating the passage of an instrument string from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface. 
 
     
     
       4. The stringing device of  claim 1 , wherein the stringing device is configured to facilitate wrapping of the string around part of a circumference of an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato. 
     
     
       5. The stringing device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is arcuate and configured to wrap around an arc length of an arc of an axle to which the stringing device is secured, the arc length corresponding to an angle θ of 60° about a central axis of the axle. 
     
     
       6. The stringing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of linearly arranged mating bores along the inner surface, the bores extending radially through at least a portion of the stringing device, the mating bores being configured for mating with corresponding axle pins extending radially outward from an axle to secure the stringing device to the axle. 
     
     
       7. An assembly, comprising:
 a. a rotatable axle vibrato having a mount to which a rotatable axle configured for retaining strings of a stringed instrument is rotatably mounted; and 
 b. the stringing device of  claim 1  secured about the axle such that the stringing device is rotationally fixed relative to the axle. 
 
     
     
       8. The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the axle comprises a plurality of axle pins extending radially from the axle, the axle pins mating with corresponding linearly arranged mating bores along the inner surface of the stringing device in a press fit or snap fit relationship, to secure the stringing device to the axle. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the assembly is mounted to a guitar body and a plurality of instrument strings are secured to the assembly at respective string eyelet ends and are wound at opposite ends to corresponding tuning pegs of a guitar that comprises the guitar body, wherein each of the strings passes from the outer surface, through a respective string passage and exits from the inner surface, so as to wrap around part of a circumference of an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato. 
     
     
       10. A method for stringing a stringed instrument having the assembly of  claim 7  secured to a body of the instrument, the method comprising:
 a. placing a top end of an instrument string through an opening of a corresponding string passage; 
 b. displacing the instrument string through the string passage, from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface, until an eyelet of the instrument string is retained in the eyelet seat, wherein the instrument string is wrapped about a portion of a circumference of the axle; and 
 c. winding the top end of the instrument string around a tuning peg provided on a headstock of the instrument to manipulate string tension and provide a desired string pitch. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the instrument string does not need to be pre-bent or crimped before being displaced through the string passage and wrapped around the axle. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10  wherein steps (a) and (b) are performed manually using a single hand holding the instrument string. 
     
     
       13. An assembly, comprising:
 a. a rotatable axle vibrato having a mount to which a rotatable axle configured for retaining strings of a guitar is rotatably mounted; and 
 b. a stringing device configured for facilitating stringing of the guitar, the stringing device being secured about the axle such that the stringing device is rotationally fixed relative to the axle, the stringing device comprising:
 i. an elongate article having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the inner surface being configured for mating with an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato, the axle comprising a central axis and an arc, the inner surface comprising:
 at least two contact surfaces configured to contact the axle along a length thereof when the inner surface is mated thereto, the contact surfaces being oriented at least 60° apart from each other relative to the central axis of the axle; or 
 a continuous contact surface that is curved and configured to contact the axle along a length thereof and wrap around an arc length of the arc thereof, the arc length corresponding to an angle θ of at least 60° about the central axis of the axle; and 
 
 ii. a plurality of spaced-apart string passages, each string passage comprising an opening on the outer surface, the opening leading to a channel within the stringing device, the channel leading to an aperture disposed on the inner surface, each string passage being configured for facilitating the passage of an instrument string from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface; 
 
 wherein the assembly is mounted to a guitar body of the guitar and a plurality of instrument strings are secured to the assembly at respective string eyelet ends and are wound at opposite ends to corresponding tuning pegs of the guitar, wherein each of the strings passes from the outer surface, through a respective string passage and exits from the inner surface, so as to wrap around part of a circumference of the axle. 
 
     
     
       14. The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the axle comprises a plurality of axle pins extending radially from the axle, the axle pins mating with corresponding linearly arranged mating bores along the inner surface of the stringing device in a press fit or snap fit relationship, to secure the stringing device to the axle. 
     
     
       15. A method for stringing a stringed instrument having an assembly secured to a body of the instrument, the assembly comprising a rotatable axle vibrato having a mount to which a rotatable axle configured for retaining strings of a stringed instrument is rotatably mounted and a stringing device configured for facilitating stringing of the stringed instrument, the stringing device being secured about the axle such that the stringing device is rotationally fixed relative to the axle, the stringing device comprising:
 i. an elongate article having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the inner surface being configured for mating with an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato, the axle comprising a central axis and an arc, the inner surface comprising:
 at least two contact surfaces configured to contact the axle along a length thereof when the inner surface is mated thereto, the contact surfaces being oriented at least 60° apart from each other relative to the central axis of the axle; or 
 a continuous contact surface that is curved and configured to contact the axle along a length thereof and wrap around an arc length of the arc thereof, the arc length corresponding to an angle θ of at least 60° about the central axis of the axle; and 
 
 ii. a plurality of spaced-apart string passages, each string passage comprising an opening on the outer surface, the opening leading to a channel within the stringing device, the channel leading to an aperture disposed on the inner surface, each string passage being configured for facilitating the passage of an instrument string from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface, 
 the method comprising: 
 a. placing a top end of an instrument string through an opening of a corresponding string passage, the opening comprising an eyelet seat configured for retaining an eyelet of the instrument string; 
 b. displacing the instrument string through the string passage, from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface, until an eyelet of the instrument string is retained in the eyelet seat, wherein the instrument string is wrapped about a portion of a circumference of the axle; and 
 c. winding the top end of the instrument string around a tuning peg provided on a headstock of the instrument to manipulate string tension and provide a desired string pitch. 
 
     
     
       16. An assembly, comprising:
 a. a rotatable axle vibrato having a mount to which a rotatable axle configured for retaining strings of a stringed instrument is rotatably mounted; and 
 b. the stringing device of  claim 3  secured about the axle such that the stringing device is rotationally fixed relative to the axle. 
 
     
     
       17. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the axle comprises a plurality of axle pins extending radially from the axle, the axle pins mating with corresponding linearly arranged mating bores along the inner surface of the stringing device in a press fit or snap fit relationship, to secure the stringing device to the axle. 
     
     
       18. The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the assembly is mounted to a guitar body and a plurality of instrument strings are secured to the assembly at respective string eyelet ends and are wound at opposite ends to corresponding tuning pegs of a guitar that comprises the guitar body, wherein each of the strings passes from the outer surface, through a respective string passage and exits from the inner surface, so as to wrap around part of a circumference of an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato. 
     
     
       19. A method for stringing a stringed instrument having the assembly of  claim 16  secured to a body of the instrument, the method comprising:
 a. placing a top end of an instrument string through an opening of a corresponding string passage, the opening comprising an eyelet seat configured for retaining an eyelet of the instrument string; 
 b. displacing the instrument string through the string passage, from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface, until an eyelet of the instrument string is retained in the eyelet seat, wherein the instrument string is wrapped about a portion of a circumference of the axle; and 
 c. winding the top end of the instrument string around a tuning peg provided on a headstock of the instrument to manipulate string tension and provide a desired string pitch. 
 
     
     
       20. A method for stringing a stringed instrument having an assembly secured to a body of the instrument, the assembly comprising a rotatable axle vibrato having a mount to which a rotatable axle configured for retaining strings of a stringed instrument is rotatably mounted and a stringing device configured for facilitating stringing of the stringed instrument, the stringing device being secured about the axle such that the stringing device is rotationally fixed relative to the axle, the stringing device comprising:
 i. an elongate article having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface and the outer surface running lengthwise from a proximal end to a distal end of the elongate article, the inner surface comprising a portion configured for mating with an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato, the inner surface further comprising a first elongate end and a second elongate end, wherein the portion configured for mating with an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato is disposed between the first elongate end and the second elongate end; and 
 ii. a plurality of spaced-apart string passages, each string passage comprising an opening on the outer surface, the opening leading to a channel within the stringing device, the channel leading to an aperture disposed on the inner surface, each string passage being configured for facilitating the passage of an instrument string from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface, so as to facilitate wrapping of the string around part of a circumference of an axle of a rotatable axle vibrato, 
 the method comprising: 
 a. placing a top end of an instrument string through an opening of a corresponding string passage, the opening comprising an eyelet seat configured for retaining an eyelet of the instrument string; 
 b. displacing the instrument string through the string passage, from the outer surface, through the stringing device and exiting from the inner surface, until an eyelet of the instrument string is retained in the eyelet seat, wherein the instrument string is wrapped about a portion of a circumference of the axle; and 
 c. winding the top end of the instrument string around a tuning peg provided on a headstock of the instrument to manipulate string tension and provide a desired string pitch. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the axle comprises a plurality of axle pins extending radially from the axle, the axle pins mating with corresponding linearly arranged mating bores along the inner surface of the stringing device in a press fit or snap fit relationship, to secure the stringing device to the axle.